Thousands of acres of U-P land were set aside for the Tribe under two treaties in the 1800s. The KBIC says most of it was illegally transferred to the state for construction of the Sault Ste. Marie canal.
The bill authored by Senator Gary Peters calls for federal funds through the U-S Department of the Interior for reparations. KBIC President Doreen Baker says the bill aims to right a 150-year-old wrong.
“I guess we feel heard and understood that this was an illegal taking of our land after the treaty had been signed.”
A companion bill has been introduced in the House by Representative Jack Bergman.